The Eleventh Part
Chap. I. Of the Different Knowledges, in Different Kinds and Sorts of Creatures
If there be not Infinite Kinds, yet, it is probable, there are Infinite several Sorts; at least, Infinite particular Creatures, in every particular Kind and Sort; and the Corporeal Motions moving after a different manner, is the cause there are different Knowledges, in different Creatures; yet, none can be said to be least knowing, or most knowing: for, there is (in my opinion) no such thing as least and most, in Nature: for, several kinds and sorts of Knowledges, make not Knowledg to be more, or less; but only, they are different Knowledges proper to their kind, (as, Animal-kind, Vegetable-kind, Mineral-kind,
Elemental-kind) and are also different Knowledges in several sorts: As for example, Man may have a different Knowledg from Beasts, Birds, Fish, Flies, Worms, or the like; and yet be no wiser than those sorts of Animal-kinds. The same happens between the several Knowledges of Vegetables, Minerals, and Elements: but, because one Creature doth not know what another Creature knows, thence arises the Opinion of Insensibility, and Irrationability, that some Creatures have of others. But there is to be noted, That Nature is so Regular, or wise, in her Actions, that the Species and Knowledg of every particular Kind, is kept in an Even, or Equal Balance: For example, The Death or Birth of Animals, doth neither add or diminish from, or to the Knowledg of the Kind, or rather the Sort. Also, an Animal can have no Knowledg, but such as is proper to the species of his Figure: but, if there be a Creature of a mixt Species, or Figure, then their Knowledg is according to their mixt Form: for, the Corporeal Motions of every Creature, move according to the Form, Frame, or Species of their Society: but, there is not only different Knowledges, in different Kinds and Sorts of Creatures; but, there are different Knowledges in the different Parts of one and the same; as, the different Senses of Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Tasting, and Touching, have not only different Knowledges in different Sensitive Organs, but in one Sense, they have several Perceptive Knowledges: and though the different Sensitive Organs of a Human Creature, are ignorant of each other; yet, each Sense is as knowing as another. The same (no question) is amongst all the Creatures in Nature.
Chap. II. Of the Variety of Self-actions in Particular Creatures
There are numerous Varieties of Figurative Motions in some Creatures; and in others, very few, in comparison: but, the occasion of that, is the manner of the Frame and Form of a Creature: for, some Creatures that are but small, have much more variety of Figurative Motions, than others that are very bigg and large Creatures: so that, it is not only the Quantity of Matter, or Number of Parts, but the several Changes of Motion, by the Variety of their Active Parts, that is the cause of it: for, Nature is not only an Infinite Body, but, being Self-moving, causes Infinite Variety, by the altered Actions of her Parts; every altered Action, causing both an altered Self-knowledg, and an altered Perceptive Knowledg.
Chap. III. Of the Variety of Corporeal Motion, of One and the Same Sort or Kind of Motion
There is Infinite Variety of Motion of the same sorts and kinds of Motions; as for example, Of Dilatations, or Extensions, Expulsions, Attractions, Contractions, Retentions, Digestions, Respirations: There is also Varieties of Densities, Rarities, Gravities, Levities, Measures, Sizes, Agilness, Slowness, Strength, Weakness, Times, Seasons, Growths, Decays, Lives, Deaths, Conceptions, Perceptions, Passions, Appetites, Sympathies, Antipathies, and Millions the like kinds, or sorts.
CHAP. IV. Of the Variety of particular Creatures.
Nature is so delighted with Variety, that seldom two Creatures (although of the same sort, nay, from the same Producers) are just alike; and yet Human Perception cannot perceive above four kinds of Creatures, viz. Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, and Elements: but, the several sorts seem to be very numerous; and the Varieties of the several Particulars, Infinite: but, Nature is necessitated to divide her Creatures into Kinds and Sorts, to keep Order and Method: for, there may be numerous Varieties of sorts; as for example, Many several Worlds, and infinite Varieties of Particulars in those Worlds: for, Worlds may differ from each other, as much as several sorts of Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, or Elements; and yet be all of that sort we name Worlds: but, as for the Infinite Varieties of Nature, we may say, That every Part of Nature is Infinite, in some sort; because every Part of Nature is a perpetual Motion, and makes Infinite Varieties, by change or alteration of Action: but, there is so much Variety of the several Shapes, Figures, Forms, and Sizes, as, Bigger, and Less; as also, several sorts of Heats, Colds, Droughts, Moistures, Fires, Airs, Waters, Earths, Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, as are not to be expressed.
Chap. V. Of Dividing, and Rejoyning, or Altering Exterior Figurative Motions
The Interior and Exterior Figurative Motions of some sorts of Creatures, are so united by their Sympathetical Actions, as they cannot be separated without a Total Dissolution; and some cannot be altered without a Dissolution; and other Figurative Motions may separate, and unite again; and others, if separate, cannot unite again, as they were before: As for example, The Exterior Parts of a Human Creature, if once divided, cannot be rejoyned; when as some sorts of Worms may be divided, and if those divided Parts meet, can rejoyn, as before. Also, some Figurative Motions of different sorts, and so different, that they are opposite, may unite in agreement, in one Composition, or Creature; yet, when the very same sorts of Figurative Motions, are not so united, they are, as it were, deadly Enemies.
Chap. VI. Of Different Figurative Motions in Particular Creatures
There are many Creatures that are composed of very opposite Figurative Motions; as for example, Some Parts of Fire and Water; also, all Cordials, Vitriols, and the like Waters; also, Iron and Stone, and Infinite the like: But, that which is composed of the most different Figurative Motions, is Quick-silver, which is exteriorly Cold, Soft, Fluid, Agil, and Heavy: also, Divisible, and Rejoynable; and yet so Retentive of its Innate Nature, that although it can be rarified, yet not easily dissolved; at least, not that Human Creatures can perceive; for, it hath puzled the best Chymists.
Chap. VII. Of the Alterations of Exterior and Innate Figurative Motions of Several Sorts of Creatures
The Form of several Creatures, is after several manners and ways, which causes several Natures or Properties: As for example, The Exterior and Innate Corporeal Motions of some Creatures, depend so much on each other, That the least Alteration of the one, causes a Dissolution of the whole Creature; whereas the Exterior Corporeal Motions of other sorts of Creatures, can change and rechange their actions, without the least disturbance to the Innate Figurative Motions: In other sorts the Innate Motions shall be quite altered, but their Exterior Motions be in some manner consistent: As for proof, Fire is of that Nature, that both the Exterior and Innate Motions, are of one and the same sort; so that the Alteration of the one, causeth a Dissolution of the other; that is, Fire loses the Property of Fire, and is altered from being Fire. On the other side, the Exterior Figurative Motions of Water, can change and rechange, without any disturbance to the Innate Nature: but, though the Alteration of the Innate Figurative Motions of all Creatures, must of necessity alter the Life and Knowledg of that Creature; yet there may be such consistent Motions amongst the Exterior Parts of some sorts of Creatures, that they will keep their Exterior Form: As for example, A Tree that is cut down, or into pieces, when those pieces are withered, and, as we say, dead; yet, they remain of the Figure of Wood. Also, a dead Beast doth not alter the Figure of Flesh or Bones, presently. Also, a dead Man doth not presently dissolve from the Figure of Man; and some, by the Art of embalming, will occasion the remaining Figurative Motions of the dead Man to continue, so that those sorts of Motions, that are the Frame and Form, are not quite altered: but yet, those Exterior Forms are so altered, that they are not such as those by which we name a Living Man. The same of Flyes, or the like, intomb’d in Amber: but by this we may perceive, That the Innate Figurative Motions may be quite altered, and yet the Exterior Figurative consistent Motions, do, in some manner, keep in the Figure, Form, or Frame of their Society. The truth is, (in my opinion) That all the Parts that remain undissolved, have quite altered their Animal actions; but only the Consistent actions, of the Form of their Society, remains, so as to have a resemblance of their Frame or Form.
Chap. VIII. Of Local Motion
All Corporeal Motion is Local; but only they are different Local Motions: and some sorts or kinds, have advantage of others, and some have power over others, as, in a manner, to inforce them to alter their Figurative motions; as for example, When one Creature doth destroy another, those that are the Destroyers, occasion those that we name the Destroyed, to dissolve their Unity, and to alter their actions: for, they cannot annihilate their actions; nor can they give or take away the Power of Self-motions; but, as I said, some Corporeal motions can occasion other Corporeal motions to move so, or so. But this is to be noted, That several sorts of Creatures have a mixture of several sorts of Figurative motions; as for example, There are Flying Fish, and Swimming Beasts; also, there are some Creatures that are partly Beasts, and partly Fish, as Otters, and many others; also, a Mule is partly a Horse, and an Ass; a Batt is partly a Mouse, and a Bird; an Owle is partly a Cat and a Bird; and numerous other Creatures there are, that are partly of one sort, and partly of another.
Chap. IX. Of Several Manners, or Ways of Advantages, or Disadvantages
Not only the Manner, Form, Frame, or Shape of particular Creatures; but also, the Regularity or Irregularity of the Corporeal motions of particular Creatures, doth cause that which Man names Strength or Weakness, Obedience or Disobedience, Advantages or Disadvantages of Power and Authority, or the like: As for example, A greater Number will overpower a lesse: for, though there be no Differences (as being no Degrees) of Self-strength amongst the Self-moving Parts, or Corporeal motions; yet, there may be stronger and weaker Compositions, or Associations; and a greater Number of Corporeal motions, makes a stronger Party: but, if the greater Party be Irregular, and the lesser Party be Regular, a hundred to one, but the weaker Party is victorious. Also, the manner of the Corporeal motions; as, a Diving-motion may get the better of a Swimming-motion; and, in some cases, the Swimming, the better of the Diving. Jumping may have the advantage over Running; and, in other cases, Running, over Jumping. Also, Creeping may have the advantage over Flying; and, in other cases, Flying, over Creeping. A Cross Motion may have the advantage over a Straight; and, in other cases, a Straight, over a Cross. So it may be said, of Turning and Lifting, of Contracting and Dilating Motions. And many the like Examples may be had; but, as I have often said, There is much Advantage and Disadvantage in the manner and way of the Composed Form and Figure of Creatures.
Chap. X. Of the Actions of Some Sorts of Creatures, Over Others
Some sorts of Creatures are more Exteriorly active, than other sorts; and some more Interiorly active; some more rare, some more dense, and the like: also, some dense Creatures are more active than the rare; and some rare, are more active than other sorts that are dense. Also, some Creatures that are rare, have advantage of some that are dense; and some that are dense, over some sorts that are rare; some leight Bodies, over some heavy Bodies; and some heavy Bodies, over some sorts of leight Bodies. Also, several sorts of Exterior Motions, of several sorts of Creatures, have advantage and disadvantage of each other; as for example, Springs of Water, and Air, will make Passages, and so divide hard strong Rocks. And, on the other side, a Straw will divide Parts of Water; and a small Flye, will divide Parts of the Air: but, mistake me not, I mean, that they occasion the Airy or Watry Parts, to divide.
Chap. XI. Of Glassie Bodies
Tis impossible, as I have said, to describe the Infinite Corporeal Figurative Motions: but, amongst those Creatures that are subject to Human Perception, there are some that resemble each other, and yet are of different Natures; as for example, Black Ebony, and Black Marble, they are both Glassie, smooth, and black; yet, one is Stone, the other Wood. Also, there be many light and shining Bodies, that are of different Natures; as for example, Metal is a bright shining Body; and divers sorts of Stones, are bright shining Bodies: also, clear Water is a bright shining Body; yet, the Metal and Stones are Minerals, and Water is an Element. Indeed, Most Bodies are of a Glassie Hue, or, as I may say, Complexion; as may be observed in most Vegetables; as also, Skins, Feathers, Scales, and the like.
But some may say, That Glassiness is made by the Brightness of the Light that shines upon them.
I answer: If so, then the ordinary Earth would have the like Glassiness: but, we perceive the Earth to appear dull in the clearest Sun-shining Day: wherefore, it is not the Light, but the nature of their own Bodies. Besides, every Body hath not one and the same sort of Glassiness, but some are very different: ’Tis true, some sorts of Bodies do not appear Glassie, or shining, until they be polished: but, as for such sorts of shining Bodies that appear in the dark, there is not many of them perceiv’d by us, besides the Moon and Starrs; but yet some there are, as Fire; but that is an Element. There are also Glow-worms Tayles, Cats Eyes, Rotten Wood, and such like shining-Bodies.
Chap. XII. Of Metamorphoses, or Transformations of Animals and Vegetables
There are some Creatures that cannot be Metamorphosed: as for example, Animals and Vegetables, at least, most of those sorts, by reason they are composed of many several and different Figurative Motions; and I understand Metamorphose, to be a change and alteration of the Exterior Form, but not any change or alteration of the Interior or Intellectual Nature: and how can there be a general change of the Exterior Form or Shape of a Human Creature, or such like Animal, when the different Figurative Motions of his different Compositions, are, for the most part, ignorant of each others particular Actions? Besides, as Animals and Vegetables require degrees of time for their Productions, as also, for their Perfections; so, some Time is requir’d for their Alterations: but, a sudden alteration amongst different Figurative Motions, would cause such a Confusion, that it would cause a Dissolution of the whole Creature, especially in actions that are not natural, as being improper to their kind, or sort: The same of Vegetables, which have many different Figurative Motions. This considered, I cannot chuse but wonder, that wise men should believe (as some do) the Change or Transformation of Witches, into many sorts of Creatures.
Chap. XIII. Of the Life and Death of Several Creatures
That which Man names Life, and Death, (which are some sorts of Compositions and Divisions of Parts of Creatures) is very different, in different kinds and sorts of Creatures, as also, in one and the same sort: As for example, Some Vegetables are old and decrepit in a Day; others are not in Perfection, or in their Prime, in less than a hundred years. The same may be said of Animal kinds. A Silk-worm is no sooner born, but dyes; when as other Animals may live a hundred years. As for Minerals, Tinn and Lead seem but of a short Life, to Gold; as a Worm to an Elephant, or a Tulip to an Oak for lasting; and ’tis probable, the several Productions of the Planets and Fixed Starrs, may be as far more lasting, than the parts of Gold more lasting than a Flye: for, if a Composed Creature were a Million of years producing, or Millions of years dissolving, it were nothing to Eternity: but, those produced Motions that make Vegetables, Minerals, Elements, and the like, the subtilest Philosopher, or Chymist, in Nature, can never perceive, or find out; because, Human Perception is not so subtile, as to perceive that which Man names Natural Productions: for, though all the Corporeal Motions in Nature are perceptive; yet, every Perceptive Part doth not perceive all the actions in Nature: for, though every different Corporeal Motion, is a different Perception; yet, there are more Objects than any one Creature can perceive: also, every particular kind or sort of Creatures, have different Perceptions, occasioned by the Frame and Form of their Compositions, or unities of their Parts: So as the Perceptions of Animals, are not like the Perceptions of Vegetables; nor Vegetables, like the Perceptions of Minerals; nor Minerals, like the Perceptions of Elements: For, though all these several kinds and sorts, be perceptive; yet, not after one and the same way, or manner of Perception: but, as there is infinite variety of Corporeal Motions, so there are infinite varieties of Perceptions: for, Infinite Self-moving Matter, hath infinite varieties of Actions. But, to return to the Discourse of the Productions and Dissolutions of Creatures; The reason, that some Creatures last longer than others, is, That some Forms or Frames of their Composition, are of a more lasting Figure. But this is to be observed, That the Figures that are most solid, are more lasting than those that are more slack and loose: but mistake me not; I say, For the most part, they are more lasting. Also, this is to be noted, That some Compositions require more labour; some, more curiosity; and some are more full of variety, than others.
Chap. XIV. Of Circles
A Circle is a Round Figure, without End; which Figure can more easily and aptly alter the Exterior Form, than any other Figure. For example, A Circular Line may be drawn many several ways, into different and several sorts of Figures, without breaking the Circle: also, it may be contracted or extended into a less or wider compass; and drawn or formed into many several sorts of Figures, or Works; as, into a Square, or Triangle, or Oval, or Cylinder, or like several sorts of Flowers, and never dissolve the Circular Line. But this is to be noted, that there may be several sorts of Circular Lines; as, some Broad, some Narrow, some Round, some Flat, some Ragged or Twisted, some Smooth, some Pointed, some Edged, and numbers of the like; and yet the compass be exactly round.
But some may say, that, When a Circle is drawn into several Works, it is not a Circle: As for example, When a Circle is squared, it is not a Circle, but a Square.
I answer: It is a Circle squar’d, but not a Circle broken, or divided: for, the Interior Nature is not dissolved, although the Exterior Figure is altered: it is a Natural Circle, although it should be put into a Mathematical Square. But, to conclude this Chapter, I say, That all such sorts of Figures that are (like Circular Lines) of one piece, may change and rechange their Exterior Figures, or Shapes, without any alterations of their Interior Properties.
Chap. XV. Human Creatures Cannot So Probably Treat of Other Sorts of Creatures, as of Their Own
To treat of the Productions of Vegetables, Minerals, and Elements, is not so easie a Task, as to treat of Animals; and, amongst Animals, the most easie Task is, to treat of Human Productions; by reason one Human Creature may more probably guess at the Nature of all Human Creatures (being of the same Nature) than he can of other kinds of other kinds of Creatures, that are of another Nature. But, mistake me not, I mean not of another Nature, being not of the same kind of Creature, but concerning Vegetables, Minerals, and Elements. The Elements may more easily be treated of, than the other Two kinds: for, though there be numerous sorts of them, at least, numerous several Particulars; yet, not so many several Sorts, as of Vegetables: and though Minerals are not, as to my knowledg, so numerous as Vegetables; yet, they are of more, or at least, of as many Sorts as Elements are. But, by reason I am unlearned, I shall only give my Opinion of the Productions of some sorts; in which, I fear, I shall rather discover my Ignorance, than the Truth of their Productions. But, I hope my Readers will not find fault with my Endeavour, though they may find fault with my little Experience, and want of Learning.